As impossible as it may be to believe, Meg Ryan is 64 years old as of November 19. (Drop the skincare routine, queen!)
In honor of her reaching her mid-60s in fine and fabulous form, we’ve endeavored to round up her very best rom-com roles—not an easy task, given Ryan is to romantic comedies what perhaps Michael Jordan is to basketball. (Rest assured that people who actually understand basketball have confirmed to me that this comparison rings true.)
Ryan’s slayed more than her fair share of dramatic roles (Top Gun, anyone?), but in my heart of hearts, her more lighthearted work will always come first. Below, find a power ranking of Ryan’s five most unforgettable rom-com roles.
5. Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Obviously, this Nora Ephron-directed tearjerker is a classic of the genre (why else would it make this list?), but personally, it’s a little heavy on the schmaltz for my taste, thus relegating it to last place in this very specific ranking. What can I say? I like it when Meg’s getting her jokes off, not sobbing onto Tom Hanks’s shoulder!
4. Kate in French Kiss (1995)
Is the plot of this ’90s Francophile-bait rom-com a little contrived? Sure. But Ryan is characteristically adorable in it as an American history teacher turned French vineyard owner. (How do I finesse that glow-up for myself?) Also, iconic shag haircut and Breton stripe sweater representation on Ryan in this film.
3. Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Now here’s a Nora Ephron-directed, Tom Hanks-starring Meg Ryan film that actually allows her to flaunt her comic chops, which she inarguably does as a leftist indie bookstore owner who discovers that a) capitalism is bad, b) Hanks is handsome, and c) email is a convenient tool through which to meet romantic prospects.
2. Wilhelmina “Willa” Davis in What Happens Later (2023)
Is this necessarily my favorite (or second-favorite, as the case may be) rom-com of all time? No…but I do love that Ryan directed it in addition to starring in it. It was high time for her to further complicate her “America’s Sweetheart” image by stepping behind the camera, and I think she did so quite masterfully. Plus, her chemistry with David Duchovny is off the charts.
1. Sally Albright in When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
I mean, this virtuosic performance in one of my favorite rom-coms of all time always had a lock on the number-one spot on this list, TBH. She’d like the pie heated, and she doesn’t want the ice cream on top, she wants it on the side, and she’d like strawberry instead of vanilla, if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream… but only if it’s real. If it’s out of a can, then nothing!!!!!!!!!!
